The Liverpool legend agreed to a two-year deal, external with Turkish side Trabzonspor on Thursday following the expiry of his contract at Anfield, bringing an end to one of the most successful careers in Premier League history.
For years, Saudi Pro League clubs pursued Salah, while Major League Soccer was also viewed as a realistic destination for one of world football’s biggest stars. Instead, the 34-year-old has remained in Europe by joining Trabzonspor, a club better known for upsetting Turkey’s established order than dominating it.
So why has Salah chosen Trabzonspor, and what can both player and club expect from one another?
Staying in Europe remained the priority
Money alone does not explain Salah’s decision. Saudi Arabian clubs had long identified the Egyptian as one of their priority targets, with Al-Ittihad even making a late approach, while Sporting Kansas City were among the MLS clubs interested in bringing him to the United States.
Both destinations could have offered enormous monetary rewards. Instead, Salah opted to stick with European football.
He will be very well paid in Turkey. In a posting to the Turkish stock exchange, Trabzonspor confirmed he will be paid £14.5m per season and will receive a 20% share of revenue from Salah-branded merchandise.
Trabzonspor finished third in last season’s Super Lig and will compete in this month’s Europa League play-offs. Victory over two legs would see them qualify for the league phase, while defeat would send them into the Conference League.
For a player who helped Egypt reach the knockout stages of this summer’s World Cup and produced one of the finest campaigns of his career in 2024-25, continuing to compete in Uefa competition appears to have carried significant weight.
Why Trabzonspor?
If Salah was determined to stay in Europe, Trabzonspor might not have been the obvious choice.
Turkey’s traditional powerhouses are Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas, with most of the country’s biggest-name arrivals historically choosing one of the Istanbul giants.
Besiktas did attempt to sign Salah before negotiations collapsed over the financial structure of the deal, opening the door for Trabzonspor.
Although they lack the global profile of Turkey’s biggest clubs, Trabzonspor are far from outsiders.
They are seven-time Turkish champions, won the Super Lig as recently as 2021-22 and lifted last season’s Turkish Cup.
Fatih Tekke’s side also finished third in the league, earning another opportunity to qualify for European competition.
